Only a few individuals can say that they were born with this talent, while many successful leaders have admitted to spending hours and hours practicing in front of the mirror.

So how can I, as a parent, help my child to improve this skill that will benefit him/her greatly in their life? The golden rule is practice, practice and practice. The better your child knows their speech, the less time they will spend worrying about it. This time can be spent on fixing posture, articulation, and eye contact, which are vital for any presentation. Public speaking is fairly associated with very nervous experiences, so remember to keep the encouragements coming.

Furthermore, as a short term stressor, public speaking can have health benefits. Teaching a child to feel comfortable with public speaking increases his/her confidence and instils valuable skills such as self-motivation and pride.

Practice in Front of a Mirror It may sound like a cliche, but practicing in front of a mirror is an important step in overcoming stage fright. It is also a great way for your child to be able to see things that they may be doing wrong. Are they looking down at their notes too much? Do they look as terrified as they are? Are they smiling enough? Are they mumbling and barely moving their mouth, or are they enunciating clearly enough? Practicing in front of a mirror is the first step in honing public speaking skills for anyone of any age.

Practice, Practice, Practice Practice really does make perfect, especially when it comes to giving a speech. The more your child practices their speech or presentation, the better they will know their stuff. If your child can have confidence in their ability to learn and deliver the material, some of the nervousness about giving the speech may go away. Practice also makes it easier to memorize the material. While it is isn’t necessary for children to memorize every facet of their speech, the more they practice the less they will have to consult their notes. A speaker who seldom needs to glance at his notes is more effective.

Record Their Speech Record your child speaking and play it back for them. This is a great way to help him avoid using the “uhs” or “ums” or “likes.” This is also great for children who tend to speak too quickly or too slowly. Listening to yourself on a recorder can be a bit uncomfortable of an experience but is great for sharpening public-speaking skills.